HOUSTON—The Houston Texans’ collapse over the last four games of regular season produced a cacophony of criticism directed toward Matt Schaub.

For the first time in his six seasons with the Texans, Schaub is getting ripped by fans and media for the Texans’ blowing home-field advantage in the playoffs and being relegated to hosting Cincinnati in the wild-card round.

Much has changed for Matt Schaub since the Houston Texans were 11-1 and seemingly on top of the world. (AP Photo)

“You play this game, you’re going to have some bad days,” Schaub said during a break in preparation for the Bengals. “You’re going to have critics. When you’re not getting the job done, you’re going to have those things. That’s just part of the game.”

The Texans haven’t gotten the job done since they were 11-1 and appeared to be a cinch for home-field advantage. All they had to do was to beat Minnesota at Reliant Stadium or Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, and they lost both games.

During their closing 1-3 stretch, Schaub threw one touchdown pass but was voted to the Pro Bowl. In each of the three losses during the Texans' slide, he had a passer rating of less than 73.0. Not counting a mop-up drive at New England when backup T.J. Yates played, the Texans have scored three offensive touchdowns in 4 1/2 games dating back to halftime of the Dec. 2 victory at Tennessee.

The Texans’ plunge has left fans in Houston with no confidence in their team as they approach the Cincinnati game, a rematch of last year’s first-round game in which the Texans won 31-10.

Schaub missed that game and the AFC South-clinching game at Paul Brown Stadium because he was recovering from foot surgery. Now he’s trying to do what Yates did twice as a rookie—defeat the Bengals.

“When you’re in the quarterback position, if the team’s doing good, they’re going to talk good about you,” Brown said. “If the team’s doing bad, they’re going to talk bad about you. That’s just the nature of the business, but he’ll be ready to go. I expect big things from Matt.”

Schaub threw for more than 4,000 yards for the third time. He threw 22 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. When he was playing well, he was protected like Fort Knox. In the first 12 games, he was sacked 15 times, the fewest in the league. But in the last four games, he’s been sacked 12 times.

“It’s a group effort,” Brown said. “It’s up to us up front to keep him clean, keep him comfortable back there and able to stand tall. It’s up to the receivers and running backs to make the plays when the ball’s delivered to them.

“I expect him to play at a high level, and I expect everyone else to, as well.”

The one player the Texans know will play well is Andre Johnson, who is Schaub’s favorite target. Johnson finished with 112 catches for 1,598 yards. Asked about Schaub’s struggles over the last month, Johnson turns philosophical.

“When the team’s not playing well, the quarterback’s going to take most of the criticism,” Johnson said. “It’s all about how you respond. However he goes out and plays Saturday, that’s what people will talk about.”

If the Texans lose to the Bengals and finish with four defeats in five games, it will go down as a monumental collapse almost as catastrophic as the Oilers’ classic choke job at Buffalo after the 1992 season. They blew a 35-3 third-quarter lead and lost 41-38 in overtime.

“We’re going to ask Matt to do everything we’ve asked him to do from Day 1. Certainly, he’s made some plays, but he just hasn’t made all the plays, and we expect him to make all the plays.”

Owner Bob McNair committed to Schaub before the season. Schaub signed a five-year, $66 million extension in September. At one point, the Texans were 18-4 with Schaub as their starter over the last two seasons. Then came the nosedive over the last four games.

“It’s a combination of things that we can help him with,” said coach Gary Kubiak, who's Schaub’s staunchest supporter. “Obviously, I’ve got a job to do with him, to make sure we’re playing our type of football.

“We’ve been in some tough situations playing from down a bunch three out of the last four weeks, so that’s been difficult. I know there are some things he can do better, but we can all help him, too.”

Kubiak likes to say the offense is built around the running game, primarily Arian Foster, but Bengals coach Marvin Lewis knows better.

“The offense is built around his abilities, which are special,” Lewis said. “You have the great running game built around Foster, but you have to sell it—the play actions, the screens, the nakeds, the boots—and everything that comes off the runs.”

The Texans are desperate for a victory to stop the bleeding. If they defeat the Bengals, they’ll return to New England, where they lost 42-14, igniting the current collapse.

“It’s exciting to be in this position and be a part of the postseason,” Schaub said. “Our team has a very business-like approach and just concentrating on what it’s going to take for us to be successful. What’s in the past, you can’t change. We’ve got to move forward. We’re in the playoffs, and you win and keep going.

“I’ve just got to play a little more consistent. I definitely know when things aren’t going well to look at myself first because I’m the one that’s putting everyone in position and trying to make the plays. I’ve got to play better. Our whole team, everyone across the board, has got to pick their game up.”